"It's totally unhealthy," says Martin Schulz, an economist at Fujitsu Research Institute in Tokyo. "Japan's business cycle isn't working. When no old companies go out of business, no new ones can come in because there isn't room. The old companies will ... ( read original story ...)
Japan, ASEAN to seek better cooperation against protectionism during Osaka meet
This will be the first visit to Japan by all ASEAN economic ministers in five years. During their stay, the ministers are scheduled to visit companies and research institutes and have meetings with business groups in Tokyo as well as Kyoto, Osaka and ... ( read original story ...)
In rural Japan, battery-powered trains emerge as lower-cost, eco-friendly alternative
Railway operators in rural Japan are replacing diesel-guzzling trains with new battery-powered rolling stock, taking advantage of the low-maintenance, environmentally friendly modern technology to cut costs and emissions. East Japan Railway Co. began using ... ( read original story ...)
Mitsubishi Electric aims sky-high with space business push
TOKYO -- Mitsubishi Electric will build a new satellite production facility, the company said Friday, as it pivots from defense to offense in the space business to compete with major Western players and lower-priced startups. The Japanese electronics ... ( read original story ...)
Trade ministry wants 'Japan coalition' bid in Toshiba chip sale
Many of the major Japanese electronics companies have exited the semiconductor business because of the heavy financial burden involved. In addition to the instability in the overall performance of semiconductor sales, annual capital investments of between ... ( read original story ...)
Russia’s Rosatom negotiating joint projects with Japan in third countries
MOSCOW, April 9. /TASS/. Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom is negotiating with Japanese companies possible cooperation on joint nuclear projects in third countries, Rosatom’s CEO Alexei Likhachev said on Sunday. "An important subject that was ... ( read original story ...)
Toshiba planning to sell TV business
TOKYO -- Toshiba, which sold the first Japan-made color television in 1960, now appears to want to sell its TV business. Some foreign buyers are said to be showing interest in taking over the unit, according to people familiar with the matter. Potential ... ( read original story ...)
BOJ tankan seen showing manufacturers' mood strongest since mid-2015
TOKYO Japanese manufacturers' business outlook likely improved for a second straight quarter in March to its strongest since mid-2015, a Reuters poll found on Friday, buoyed by a weak yen and a pickup in exports. The Bank of Japan's quarterly tankan ... ( read original story ...)
Bitcoin acceptance growing in Japan
If the currency proves a hit in Japan over the next year, other countries may be expected to similarly warm to the currency. John Heggestuen, director of research at BI Intelligence, Business Insider’s premium research service, has compiled a ... ( read original story ...)
ASEAN-Japan Innovation Network formed to create new linkages
KUALA LUMPUR -- Private business groups from Southeast Asia and Japan sealed a new alliance on Friday in Tokyo to promote economic cross-pollination. The ASEAN Business Club, a group of top companies in Southeast Asia, signed a memorandum of cooperation ... ( read original story ...)
Noah Smith: Japan can teach U.S. how to overcome national rot
There is one large, developed country that has managed to mostly pull itself out of a long period of paralysis. That country is Japan. Much ink has been spilled about Japan’s seemingly endless dysfunction following the bursting of its real estate and ... ( read original story ...)
Abe adviser: Japan should push back any US attack on yen policy
JAPAN should push back against any US suggestion that it is suppressing the yen’s value for trade advantage, an adviser to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said, in a bid to pre-empt criticism of Japan’s currency policy. Koichi Hamada, Cabinet adviser and ... ( read original story ...)
Consortium mulled for Toshiba unit bid
Talks about forming a public-private consortium to buy a major stake in Toshiba Corp.’s flash memory business are underway, informed sources said on Saturday. The idea is to secure around ¥500 billion from dozens of Japanese companies through a new ... ( read original story ...)
Japan's megabanks to cut 2018 hiring class by 25%
TOKYO -- Just over 3,300 new college graduates are expected to start working at Japan's three megabanks next April, a roughly 25% decline from the current fiscal year, as financial institutions rethink their hiring priorities in a difficult business ... ( read original story ...)
Governor: Kubota move to Grapevine symbolizes growing Texas-Japan ties
In addition to highlighting Texas’ penchant for commandeering California corporations, Kubota’s relocation demonstrates the growing economic connections between Texas and Japan, Abbott said. “When you look at the business principles and ideas of ... ( read original story ...)
Pricier Japan tops for Thais
Hotels.com said three cities in Japan -- Tokyo, Osaka and Sapporo -- were in the top 10 most-visited destinations by Thais last year. Tokyo ranked first, Osaka fourth and Sapporo eighth. It was the first year that Sapporo, home of seasonal Hokkaido cuisine ... ( read original story ...)